Novelist celebrated his birthday recently, but he was the one giving out gifts, sharing his single, "Shoot Out".

The track is abrasive and explosive, with a clipped sample repeatedly warning of police and reefs in a shootout over tense, clipped alarm-like sounds. The gunshot samples are effective enough, but it's Novelist's delivery that punches home the message. A step away from his usually nonchalant style, the South London MC/producer is at his most direct and commanding on this one.

For now "Shoot Out" lives exclusively on SoundCloud, but don't let that deter you from taking it in.